www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Parish Life & Evangelization Married clergy...where's the money coming from?

To answer KO63AP's posting, wouldn't a married Byzantine(or other)Rite priest be expected to follow the church's prohibition on birth control? If the priest's wife were to be raising six, eight, or more children,PLUS being married to a cleric, how could she be able to work outside the home? I'm beginning to think that economics indeed might be one reason why celibacy caught on with Rome.I've had it both ways,I was a married priest for almost 29 years, until my wife reposed on May 7th of this year.We raised two sons, now 27 and 30 and living on their own.I can easily get by on $800.00 a month,plus a part-time job for medical insurance.

I know examples where priests had to have second jobs to supplement their parish income but this is not unusual in the western world. In some parishes the number of faithful are small and it would be impossible for this small congregation to support a priest and a family. In the eastern tradition, the state subsidized the priest and his family. But, in the west it is a different situation. Our priest is married and has two beautiful little girls and one on the way. Prior to coming to our parish he worked in a mission parish and had to supplement his income with his work in computer sciences. His income was quite impressive and he had to take a pay cut to come to our parish but he did so in order to serve the greater good. We could only offer him and his family a little over half of what he made on the outside but he took the position just the same. He knew that his vocation was to be a priest not withstanding. We are very fortunate to have him and he has made immeasurable changes in our parish for the good. He is a hard worker and is a devoted priest. We are very blessed by his being here.

A wonderful story of a man following his vocation, Joe. God bless your priest and your parish!

Many Orthodox clergy here hold down day jobs as teachers, pharmacists, radiographers. One of the UGCC is a professor of law at university. I suppose the help of the parishoners is greatly appreciated and keep parishes running smoothly.

"Many Orthodox clergy here hold down day jobs as teachers, pharmacists, radiographers. One of the UGCC is a professor of law at university. I suppose the help of the parishoners is greatly appreciated and keep parishes running smoothly."

I am surprised to read this. I know that the Ukrainian Catholic priests in my area have financial issues, but this does not apply to my jurisdiction, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. I can't speak of other greographical areas but I know that the Greek Orthodox priests and also the OCA priests do not have outside jobs. The consistory helps the poorer parishes in rural areas in Western Canada so that every priest has a base salary, plus a manse and a car allowance. Then parishes in the city of course pay much more that the base requirement of $25,000, house and car allowance. Then of course there is always the money from Treba which in a large parish really adds up. The parish council sets the budget for the parish and everything is in the open. There is accountability and financial transperancy.
I know the Anglican and United Churches use the same system of having a base salary but in their cases the base salary is $35,000.

"There seem to be so many cases of parishes that seem entrustes to them. It has seemed to me that every time one turns around there is some new project that ends badly or wastes scarce resources. Added to that, every time a parish starts to move forward and shows increased giving, the diocese steps in and wants a larger share to support and supplement other parishes that have a poorer track record at supporting their own program and clergy. It's very discouraging when one tithes and then finds out that there is a demand for more and more."

Dear Theophan,
I don't understand this about the diocese wanting more. Isn't this decided at your sobor or general church council. We have a set fee per person or family that goes directly to the consistory. Can this be changed in your church without calling a sobor or council? Maybe I am misunderstanding and you are talking about special projects in addition to the required set fee.
MIller

There are more people in the city of Los Angeles, California than there are in the whole Commonwealth of Australia.

So when you break that down to minority groups and they are scattered over the continent it menas that parishes may be so small and the priest does need external income. In one hospital the Serbian Priest was in Radiology and the Ukrainian was in Pharmacy.

Sorry...I'm not Theophan (nor could I ever fill Bob's shoes) but I wanted to "chime in" on this comment...

I have been Carpatho-Russian Orthodox for a very short time (received into the Orthodox Church back in April). Prior to that I was a "cradle" BCC. In the BCC there is no such thing as a sobor or council. It is all directed based upon what the bishop wants. Granted, I am not going to take a swipe at all of the heirarchs, I'm sure some work in consultation with others before acting (not just consulting those who are "yes men") but I know of one in particular that does whatever he wants and is accountable to no one. (Accept God at his final judgement.) Not even the numerous appeals that have been made to Rome over the years have addressed it.

The "set fee" that we see in the Orthodox Churches is the way to go. Which can be adjusted up or down as necessary at the Sobor or council.

Chris

Dear Chris,

However, in the Greek Orthodox churches of America, the parish council generally sets a priest's salary.

In Christ,
Alice

I have heard that this is also true in the OCA. In one OCA parish, the priest went to get food stamps because his family did not have enough to make ends meet. Then the parish council was humiliated and gave him a slight raise.

Actually in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, the parish council and the priest each receive a salary standard guide annually from the archdiocese. The one for 2007 was received this week. It sets a minimum and a maximum salary range for the priest based on years in the priesthood, along with benefits that must be met. If not, the archdiocese would be notified and would have to intervene. I am not sure if this is also in any other jurisdictions.

Just a point of clarification.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

That was terrible. What I cant get over is how people are so mean with the money. I know here a priest was asked how he spent his pitance of Aust$500 a month. I am glad I was not at that meeting. Thankfully he has had a pay rise since.
My dad tells that when he was a boy in England the priest was hospitalised as he had collapsed due to not eating right. The excuse was from whose who could have helped him was they thought he was ok financially because he had a nice car. The car had been a gift from hi family when he was ordained. Boy did they lift their game after that.

Dear Father Anthony,

Yes, you are correct, there are guidelines. However, sometimes the parish councils can be quite generous and other times, not so...the same goes for voting on salary raises.

Sorry for not being so clear.

Regards in Christ,
Alice

Dear Alice,

Thanks for clarifying it. That is why there is a minimum and maximum range that is set. Parishes can not exceed it without the approval of the chancellor and the archbishop. The rest is in the Uniform Parish Regulations that all parishes and councils must abide by now.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

I understand with ACROD there guidelines that need to be adhered to...however, I don't know if there is a range that the parish council works with or if it is a set amount based on location, time of service etc...

I just remember someone mentioning that Fr. gets paid X due to the high cost of the area and that is required of the diocese.

Works for me